Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice
|
|
- Garey Cain
- 6 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Number Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice Estimates of resilience and resistance provide information on how an area is likely to respond to disturbances and management. Relative resilience depends on the underlying characteristics of a site or landscape like climate, soils, and the type of vegetation. In the topographically diverse Great Basin, resilience has been shown to increase with elevation and to differ among vegetation types (Chambers et al a, b). Higher precipitation and cooler temperatures, coupled with greater soil development and plant productivity, result in greater resources and more favorable environmental conditions for plant growth and reproduction at mid to high elevations (Figure 1). In contrast, lower precipitation and higher temperatures result in lower available resources for plants at low elevations. Aspect, slope, and topographic position influence these rela- Resilience and Resistance of Great Basin Ecosystems Resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to regain its fundamental structure, processes and functioning when altered by stresses and disturbances. Resilient ecosystems reorganize after stessors like drought and disturbances like wildfire without crossing a threshold to an alternative state with different structure and function. Resistance is the capacity of an ecosystem to retain its fundamental structure, processes, and functioning (or remain largely unchanged) despite stressors, disturbances, or invasive species. Resistance to invasion is particularly important in Great Basin ecosystems and is a function of the attributes of ecosystems that limit invading species. Applying resilience thinking as a land managers requires one to acknowldedge that change is continually occurring and that ecosystems are adjusting to this change at scales ranging from the landscape to the site. Resilience and resistance concepts help managers understand key drivers of ecosystem change, identify relative risks of crossing thresholds to undesired states, and design appropriate management actions to promote desired ecosystem trajectories. Purpose: Land managers are increasingly interested in improving resilience to disturbances, such as wildfire, and resistance to invasive species, such as cheatgrass and medusahead. This factsheet is designed to assist land managers in using resilience and resistance concepts to assess risks, prioritize management activities, and select appropriate treatments. tionships because of their effects on solar radiation, effective precipitation, soil development, and vegetation composition and structure. Resilience can be decreased by disturbances that result in high mortality of native vegetation. These can include frequent or severe wildfires or long and severe droughts. They also can include inappropriate grazing by livestock or wild horses and burros. Resistance to invasive annual grasses is particularly important in the Great Basin due to the widespread threat of altered fire regimes and risk of conversion to invasive annual grass dominance in low to mid elevation ecosystems. Invasive annual grasses increase the amount and continuity of fine fuels and, in many low to mid elevation areas, are resulting in In Brief: Resilience and resistance concepts help managers understand key drivers of ecosystem change, identify relative risks of crossing thresholds to undesired states, and design appropriate management actions. An understanding of the relationships of environmental characteristics to vegetation types and their inherent resilience and resistance gives us the capacity to assess risks and prioritize management actions across large landscapes. Management tools such as Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) and state and transition models (STMs) give us the capacity to evaluate a sites resilience and resistance when coupled with field surveys
2 more frequent and larger wildfires. Resistance to an invasive species in general depends on (1) the climatic suitability of an area whether or not it has the necessary soil temperature and moisture regimes for establishment, growth and reproduction of the invader, and (2) the composition and ecological condition of the native plant community whether or not it has the capacity to effectively compete with and minimize the invader (Chambers et al. 2014a). Similar to resilience, resistance to invasive species is decreased by stressors and disturbances, especially those that decrease the ability of the native community to compete with the invader. These can include removal of sagebrush due to wildfire or insects like Aroga moth. They can also include grazing or frequent and repeated fires associated with invasive annual grasses that reduce the abundance of perennial grasses and forbs. These species, especially deep-rooted perennial grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass, are especially important as they typically recover after fire and are the best competitors with invasive annuals. The factors influencing resistance to invasive annual grasses are best understood for cheatgrass, the most widespread invasive annual grass in the Great Basin (Figure 1). How can Resilience and Resistance be used to prioritize management actions at large scales? An understanding of the relationships of environmental characteristics to vegetation types and their inherent resilience and resistance gives us the capacity to assess risks and prioritize management actions across large landscapes. We can use these relationships to evaluate how likely an area is to recover following disturbances or management treatments, and how likely it is to be invaded by annual grasses. Because resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive annual grasses are highly correlated with soil temperature and moisture regimes, we can use these regimes to evaluate how resilience and resistance vary across landscapes and within planning areas (Chambers et al. 2014c). For example, evaluating these regimes in relation to potential conifer removal projects Figure 1. Resilience and resistance of the dominant vegetation types in the Great Basin. Resilience to disturbance is lowest in salt desert shrub types with warm (mesic) and dry (aridic) soils and highest in mountain big sagebrush/mountain brush types with cool (frigid) to moist (xeric) bordering on cold (cryic) soils. Resilience is often lower for soils with shallow depths or coarse textures which reduce available moisture. Low and black sagebrush are typical on these soils and are slower to recover following disturbance than neighboring sagebrush species on deeper or finer textured soils. Resilience also tends to be lower on warmer and drier south-facing slopes. Resistance to invasive annual grass follows a pattern similar to resilience, but is lowest in Wyoming big sagebrush types with warm and dry soils and highest in mountain big sagebrush/mountain brush types with cold soils. The annual invasive grass, cheatgrass, is climatically limited in low elevation salt desert types by frequent, low precipitation years, and at high elevations by low soil temperatures, but has near optimal conditions at mid elevations with relatively moderate soil temperature and soil moisture. Disturbances that remove perennial native species, like fire or inappropriate grazing, can increase available water and nutrient resources providing cheatgrass with a competitive advantage. Adapted from Chambers et al a, b
3 provides information on the risk of annual invasives for different treatments (prescribed fire or mechanical) and whether additional weed control or seeding will be needed post-treatment (Figure 2). Soil temperature and moisture data are fundamentally important in classifying and mapping soils, are available for most areas, and can be used as the first filter for evaluating the resilience and resistance and how they vary across project areas (Maestas and Campbell 2014). Recently, resilience and resistance to annual invasive grasses have been linked to sage-grouse habitat requirements in a decision support matrix for prioritizing management strategies to minimize persistent habitat threats such as wildfire and invasive annual grasses (Figure 3; Chambers et al. 2014c). The matrix is a tool that allows land managers to evaluate risks and decide where to focus specific activities in order to promote desired ecosystem trajectories. The overall management goal is to improve the ecological conditions of a site and increase the contiguous amount of land supporting sagebrush (a primary requirement for sage-grouse). Potential management activities include fire operations, fuels management, post-fire rehabilitation, and habitat restoration among others. These scenarios illustrate how the matrix can be used to inform decisions on various sites: High to moderate resilience and resistance, high sagebrush landscape cover. May not require intervention at the time of assessment, but should be monitored regularly to inform and adapt management. High to moderate resilience and resistance, moderate to low sagebrush landscape cover. May recover favorably following wildfire given sufficient native grasses and forbs. Management activities in these areas may focus on increasing habitat connectivity by removing conifers, or accelerating the rate of recovery after disturbance by seeding or transplanting sagebrush. Low resilience and resistance, moderate to high sagebrush landscape cover. May require active and focused protection to minimize stress and disturbance. If these areas lack adequate perennial grasses and forbs, and are at risk of conversion to invasive annual grasses, preventative activities like creation of fuel breaks and pre-positioning of firefighting resources may be needed to reduce fire size and frequency. These areas would likely require seeding after disturbances. Low resilience and resistance, low sagebrush landscape cover. May no longer have the capacity to support the desired species or may be so altered that they are lower priori- Figure 2. Soil temperature and moisture regimes and proposed conifer removal projects for the Pine Nuts Land Health Project within the planning area for the bi-state population of sage-grouse. Warm and dry areas (mesic-aridic) with low resilience and resistance recover more slowly and may require follow-up treatments to control weeds and restore native perennial species; cool and moist areas (frigid-xeric) with relatively higher resilience and resistance recover more quickly and may not require follow-up actions. All areas will require monitoring to determine management needs after treatment
4 Figure 3. Matrix designed to link resilience and resistance with habitat for sage-grouse. The rows provide information on the restoration/recovery potential of ecological types with relatively high, moderate, and low resilience and resistance and are illustrated here by mountain big sagebrush/mountain brush, mountain big sagebrush, and Wyoming big sagebrush, respectively. The columns provide information on the amount of time and types of intervention required to increase sagebrush cover. Sagebrush landscape cover is one of the primary indicators of sage-grouse habitat. The probability of maintaining active sage-grouse leks or breeding areas is one of our best indicators of population viability and is closely related to sagebrush landscape cover; the probability of sage-grouse persistence varies with land cover of sagebrush (low = < 25%, intermediate = 25-65%, and high = > 65%). The management objective is to move from left to right within each resilience and resistance category and increase contiguous land cover of sagebrush (adapted from Chambers et al. 2014c). ty for allocation of limited management resources. Managers may need to restore critical habitat in these types of areas, but must recognize that substantial investment and repeated interventions may be required to achieve habitat objectives. How can Resilience and Resistance be used to select the best management practices at site scales? The relative resilience and resistance of a site can be used to determine if a potential project area is appropriate for specific land treatments, such as conifer removal, post-fire seeding, etc. Assessing the resilience and resistance of an area begins with determining the ecological site types, and locating the relevant ecological site descriptions (ESDs). ESDs provide much of the baseline information necessary to evaluate changes in soil characteristics, such as temperature and moisture regimes, and vegetation attributes, like the composition and relative abundance of plant species, to evaluate the current resilience and resistance of a site. They are part of a land classification system that describes the potential of a set of climate, topographic, and soil characteristics and natural disturbances to support a dynamic set of plant communities. State-and-transition models (STMs) are a central component of ecological site descriptions that illustrate changes in plant communities and associated soil properties, causes of change, and effects of management interventions. These models use state (a relatively stable set of plant communities that are resilient to disturbance) and transi-
5 tion (the drivers of change among alternative states) to describe the range in composition and function of plant communities within ESDs (Briske et al. 2008). STMs illustrate changes or transitions among states that are characterized by thresholds that may persist over time without active intervention. They also show restoration pathways that are used to identify the environmental conditions and management actions required for return to a previous state. Detailed STMs are not yet available for the entire Great Basin, but a generalized set of models has been developed that incorporate resilience and resistance and that are widely applicable to Great Basin ecosystems (Chambers et al. 2014b, c, Miller et al. 2014, 2015). Because Great Basin ecosystems occur over a broad range of environmental conditions, and have differing land use histories and species composition, careful assessment of the project area will always be necessary to determine the appropriate management action. Factors that are used to develop STMs and to assess a site s relative resilience and resistance include various soil characteristics, current or potential vegetation, and wildfire severity or treatment impacts. These same factors can be used to score a site s relative resilience and resistance and determine appropriate management actions (see Table 1; Miller et al. 2014, 2015). Generally, sites with high scores are those that are relatively cool and moist, have deep and/or fine textured soils, a high percentage of deep-rooted perennial native grasses and forbs, and little to no invasive plant species. These types of sites typically recover well after Table 1. Factors that can be used to score a site s relative resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive annual grasses and to determine appropriate management actions (adapted from Miller et al. 2014, 2015) treatment or disturbance and often do not require seeding. Sites with low scores are those with some combination of relatively warm and dry conditions, shallow soils and/or coarse textured soils, few deep-rooted perennial native grasses and forbs, and/or an abundance of invasive plant species. These sites are often slow to recover after management treatment or disturbance, and are at risk of conversion to invasive annuals.
6 Management treatments require careful monitoring to determine if follow-up actions such as weed control and/or seeding are needed. Post-fire rehabilitation success on these sites will be weather dependent and may require repeated interventions and substantial investment to ensure success. Authors Jeanne C. Chambers USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Jeremy D. Maestas Natural Resources Conservation Service Mike Pellant Bureau of Land Management References Briske D. D., B. T. Bestelmeyer, T. K. Stringham, and P. L. Shaver Recommendations for development of resilience-based state-and-transition models. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61: Chambers, J. C., B. A. Bradley, C. A. Brown, C. D Antonio, M. J. Germino, S. P. Hardegree, J. B. Grace, R. F. Miller, and D. A. Pyke. 2014a. Resilience to stress and disturbance, and resistance to Bromus tectorum L. invasion in the cold desert shrublands of western North America. Ecosystems 17: Chambers, J. C., R. F. Miller, D. I. Board, J. B. Grace, D. A. Pyke, B. A. Roundy, E. W. Schupp, and R. J. Tausch. 2014b. Resilience and resistance of sagebrush ecosystems: implications for state and transition models and management treatments. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 67: Chambers, J. C., D. A. Pyke, J. Maestas, M. Pellent, C. S. Boyd, S. Campbell, S. Espinosa, D. Havelina, K. Mayer, and A. Wuenschel. 2014c. Using resistance and resilience concepts to reduce impacts of annual grasses and altered fire regimes on the sagebrush ecosystem and sage-grouse A strategic multi-scale approach. Fort Collins, CO, USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, RMRS-GTR-326. Miller R. F; J. C. Chambers, and M. Pellant, 2014a. A field guide to selecting the most appropriate treatments in sagebrush and pinyon-juniper ecosystems in the Great Basin: Evaluating resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive annual grasses and predicting vegetation response. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-322. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Miller R. F., J. C. Chambers, and M. Pellant. [In press]. A field guide for rapid assessment of post-wildfire recovery potential in sagebrush and pinon-juniper ecosystems in the Great Basin: Evaluating resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive annual grasses and predicting vegetation response. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-###. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Maestas, J.D. and S. B. Campbell Mapping potential ecosystem resilience and resistance across sage grouse range using soil temperature and moisture regimes. Fact Sheet. Sage Grouse Initiative. wp-content/uploads/2014/08/soil-temp-moist-data-fact- Sheet.pdf Websites Aggregated SSURGO and STATSGO Soil Temperature and Moisture Regime data: folder/538e5aa9e4b09202b547e56c Ecological site descriptions: portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/ecoscience/desc/ Web soil survey: Great Basin Factsheets are developed and produced collaboratively by the groups below. Jeanne Chambers edited the factsheets, Lael Gilbert created the design and was responsible for layout, and Nolan Preece shot the photo for the masthead, which is of Monitor Valley in central Nevada
Understanding the Importance of Resilience and Resistance to the Restoration of Sagebrush Rangelands
Understanding the Importance of Resilience and Resistance to the Restoration of Sagebrush Rangelands Jeanne Chambers, RMRS Rick Miller, OSU Jim Grace, USGS Resilience, Resistance and Thresholds Resilience
More informationEcosystem Sustainability and the Cheatgrass Fire Cycle
Ecosystem Sustainability and the Cheatgrass Fire Cycle Jeanne C. Chambers Research Ecologist US Forest Service, RMRS Reno, Nevada jchambers@fs.fed.us http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/reno SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS
More informationConifer Removal in the Sagebrush Steppe: the why, when, where, and how
Number 4 2015 #857 Conifer Removal in the Sagebrush Steppe: the why, when, where, and how Why Manage Conifers? Over the past 150 years, juniper (Juniperus spp.) and pinyon (Pinus spp.) woodlands have increased
More informationAppendix 8. Strategic Framework Tools and Details for the Resistance and Resilience Matrix and the State-and-Transition Model Approach
Appendix 8. Strategic Framework Tools and Details for the Resistance and Resilience Matrix and the State-and-Transition Model Approach This appendix provides greater detail on tools available to support
More informationProcess-based Thinking
Process-based Thinking State-and-Transition Model Development Tamzen K. Stringham University of Nevada, Reno What is process-based thinking? Ecological Processes? Range people think plants Soil people
More informationMapping the Cheatgrass-Caused Departure From Historical Natural Fire Regimes in the Great Basin, USA
Mapping the Cheatgrass-Caused Departure From Historical Natural Fire Regimes in the Great Basin, USA James P. Menakis 1, Dianne Osborne 2, and Melanie Miller 3 Abstract Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is
More informationWestern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies December 2013
Wildfire and Invasive Species in the West: Challenges That Hinder Current and Future Management and Protection of the Sagebrush-steppe Ecosystem A Gap Report This report summarizes the policy, fiscal
More informationAppendix 2. Summary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010 Warranted but Precluded Determination
Appendix 2. Summary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2010 Warranted but Precluded Determination This appendix contains a summary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 12-month findings for
More informationDefining and Evaluating Ecosystem Recovery. Jeanne Chambers USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Reno
Defining and Evaluating Ecosystem Recovery Jeanne Chambers USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Reno Components of Ecosystem Recovery Eliminate invasive or reduce abundance to acceptable
More informationFire and the Great Basin
Fire and the Great Basin Jeanne C. Chambers USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno, NV Fire regimes in Great Basin ecosystems have changed significantly since settlement of the region
More informationPat L. Shaver USDA-NRCS-WNTSC Portland, OR
Pat L. Shaver USDA-NRCS-WNTSC Portland, OR Process to collect and document professional knowledge and observations on selected indicators and attributes of rangeland health. How Ecological Processes are
More informationSTATE & TRANSITION MODELS & DISTURBANCE RESPONSE GROUPS FOR MLRA 24
STATE & TRANSITION MODELS & DISTURBANCE RESPONSE GROUPS FOR MLRA 24 Tamzen Stringham, Patti Novak-Echenique, Erica Freese, Lucas Wiseley, Patrick Shaver INTRODUCTION Currently ~18,000 ESD s need written
More informationTHE SAN DIEGO DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIRE MANAGEMENT
THE SAN DIEGO DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND FIRE MANAGEMENT THE ASSOCIATION FOR FIRE ECOLOGY Presented at THIRD INTERNATIONAL FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT CONGRESS 1, 2 November 13-17, 2006 PREAMBLE
More informationFOR 433. Carolyn Hull Sieg. US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Flagstaff, AZ
Fire and Invasive Species Carolyn Hull Sieg US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Flagstaff, AZ 1 Topics What is an invasive species? What are the stages of invasion and what characterizes
More informationEcology & Management of Cheatgrass
Ecology & Management of Cheatgrass Dr. Jay Norton, Soils Specialist University of Wyoming Land Reclamation Basics for Energy Development in Northeastern Wyoming February 3, 2009 Overview Exotic Exotic
More informationMike Pellant Bureau of Land Mgt. Boise, ID. An Overview on Research and Studies on Diversifying Crested Wheatgrass Seedings
Mike Pellant Bureau of Land Mgt. Boise, ID An Overview on Research and Studies on Diversifying Crested Wheatgrass Seedings Topics Evolution from conversion to Crested WG to seeding diversification? Why
More informationOur focus is on the Pacific Northwest and
Climate Change Impacts on Northwestern and Intermountain United States Rangelands By Jeanne C. Chambers and Mike Pellant Our focus is on the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain Region including the Great
More informationIntroduction to Ecologically-Based Invasive Plant Management
1 Module 1 Introduction to EBIPM 2 Introduction to Ecologically-Based Invasive Plant Management Learning Objectives 1. Recognize differences in traditional and ecologically-based approaches to invasive
More informationPat L. Shaver USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service West National Technology Support Center Portland, OR
Pat L. Shaver USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service West National Technology Support Center Portland, OR Westoby et al. (1989) Management influences and models Archer (1989) Domain changes from herbaceous
More informationCO 2. Grassland and Steppe Biomes. Plant Ecology in a Changing World. Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah
CO 2 Grassland and Steppe Biomes Plant Ecology in a Changing World Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah http://plantecology.net Part 1 Grassland climate zone and global distribution Grassland and steppe
More informationResilience-based Application of State-and-transition Models
Resilience-based Application of State-and-transition Models D.D. Briske, Texas A&M University B.T. Bestelmeyer, ARS Jornada Tamzen Stringham, University of Nevada-Reno Pat Shaver, NRCS Portland Center
More informationGREATER SAGE-GROUSE CONSERVATION
United States Department of Agriculture GREATER SAGE-GROUSE CONSERVATION Forest Service 1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/greater_sage-grouse. Cover photo & the photo above courtesy of Shutterstock.com Meet the
More informationState-and-Transition Model Development. Tamzen K. Stringham University of Nevada, Reno
State-and-Transition Model Development Tamzen K. Stringham University of Nevada, Reno Multiple Approaches Dig lots of holes - I will figure this out! Hang out with the right people! Check with the dog!
More informationOverview: History & Tradition. An Overview of Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health: Carrying Capacity Surveys.
An Overview of Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health: For More Information Visit: http://fresc.usgs.gov/products/rangehealth/ Download Assessment Manual from: http://fresc.usgs.gov/products/papers/1385_pellant.pdf
More informationLESSON TEN: What Is an Ecological Site and What Causes Plant Community Change?
LESSON TEN: What Is an Ecological Site and What Causes Plant Community Change? Ecological Sites Ecological sites are a distinctive kind of land that is different from all other kinds of land based on soil
More informationGeneral Information. Geographic Range This PNVG is found in the southern portion of the Great Basin; western CA, central NV, and UT
R2SBWYwt Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model The Rapid Assessment is a component of the LANDFIRE project. Reference condition models for the Rapid Assessment were created through a series of expert
More informationCold Desert Fire and Invasive Species Management: Resources, Strategies, Tactics, and Response
Society for Range Management Cold Desert Fire and Invasive Species Management: Resources, Strategies, Tactics, and Response By Jeanne C. Chambers, Elizabeth Leger, and Erin Goergen Land managers have to
More informationSynergistic Monitoring Addressing the Threats and Identifying Opportunities
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues Volume 17 Threats to Shrubland Ecosystem Integrity Article 22 1-1-2011 Synergistic Monitoring Addressing the Threats and Identifying Opportunities John C. Swanson
More informationWildland-Urban Interface/Fire Management Specialist Report Kiowa, Rita Blanca, Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands Plan Revision
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southwestern Region Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands May 2011 Wildland-Urban Interface/Fire Management Specialist Report Kiowa, Rita
More informationPinyon-Juniper/Shrublands Successional Trends: Implications of Long-Term Changes for Woodland Management
Pinyon-Juniper/Shrublands Successional Trends: Implications of Long-Term Changes for Woodland Management Robin J. Tausch 1 Richard Miller 2 and Durant McArthur 3 1. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno,
More informationSoda fire report on the April 12, 2016 Tour. Roger Rosentreter, 24 April 2016.
Soda fire report on the April 12, 2016 Tour. Roger Rosentreter, 24 April 2016. This tour was sponsored by the Society for Ecological Restoration. Planned and Co-lead by Dr. Matt Germino, USGS, and Pete
More informationShrub Microsite Influences Post-fire Perennial Grass Establishment
Shrub Microsite Influences Post-fire Perennial Grass Establishment Chad S. Boyd and Kirk W. Davies SUMMARY Woody plants can cause localized increases in resources (i.e., resource islands) that can persist
More informationBOARD OF WILDLIFE COMMISSIONERS
Wildlife Heritage Account Project Proposal Form APPLICANT INFORMATION Person/Organization/Agency: Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) Date: 8 January 2017 Name: Moira Kolada Title: Habitat Biologist Address:
More informationCharacterization of montane ecosystems, their microclimates, and wildlife distribution and abundance across the hydrographic Great Basin
Characterization of montane ecosystems, their microclimates, and wildlife distribution and abundance across the hydrographic Great Basin This project retrieves four years of data from over 200 temperature
More informationImportance of Shrub Reestablishment for Wyoming s Landscapes. Rachel Mealor, Extension Range Specialist
Importance of Shrub Reestablishment for Wyoming s Landscapes Rachel Mealor, Extension Range Specialist Why are systems dominated by shrubs? Shrubs are usually dominant in habitats that place plants under
More informationFire History and Stand Structure of a central Nevada. Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
Fire History and Stand Structure of a central Nevada Pinyon-Juniper Woodland EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND FINAL REPORT A Report to the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office September, 2006 Peter J. Weisberg
More informationSagebrush Rangelands in Nevada
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Sagebrush Rangelands in Nevada Sagebrush Species and Their General Biology: There are at least 28 species of sagebrush and many more subspecies or varieties, found in the Intermountain
More informationRangeland CEAP Literature Synthesis: Conclusions and Recommendations
Rangeland CEAP Literature Synthesis: Conclusions and Recommendations David D. Briske, Academic Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station TX Leonard Jolley, Range and Pastureland CEAP Director,
More informationPinyon-Juniper/Shrublands Long-Term Successional Trends: Implications For Woodland Health and Management
Pinyon-Juniper/Shrublands Long-Term Successional Trends: Implications For Woodland Health and Management Robin J. Tausch 1 Richard Miller 2 and Durant McArthur 3 1. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Reno,
More informationUNR Economics Working Paper Series Working Paper No
UNR Economics Working Paper Series Working Paper No. 11-002 The Economics of Fuel Management: Wildfire, Invasive Species, and the Evolution of Sagebrush Rangelands in the Western United States Michael
More informationFire Initiatives & Strategic Planning
Fire Initiatives & Strategic Planning Intermountain West Rangelands & Mojave Desert Presentation Sky Islands Fire Goals Learning Network Explain the choice of priority landscapes Demonstrate effective
More informationSeeding Big Sagebrush in Utah
Seeding Big Sagebrush in Utah Danny Summers, Kevin Gunnell, and Melissa Landeen Utah Division of Wildlife Resources CPNPP Annual Meeting, February 5, 2018 Major Threats Loss, Degradation, Fragmentation
More informationEcological Thresholds: Bridging Theory and Application
Ecological Thresholds: Bridging Theory and Application D.D. Briske and F.E. Smeins Rangeland Ecology and Management Texas A&M University College Station, Texas F.D. Fuhlendorf Plant and Soil Sciences Oklahoma
More informationMulti-disciplinary development of state and transition models An Example from Northwestern Colorado
Multi-disciplinary development of state and transition models An Example from Northwestern Colorado 1 Emily Kachergis and Maria Fernandez-Gimenez 1 USDA-Agricultural Research Service 2 Colorado State University
More informationGreat Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative 2017 Online Public Forum Summary Report
Photo: BLM Nevada Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative 017 Online Public Forum Summary Report Online Public Forum Overview The Great Basin Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) hosted an online
More informationPotential Effects of Climate Change on Mixed Severity Fire Regimes of the Western U.S.
Potential Effects of Climate Change on Mixed Severity Fire Regimes of the Western U.S. Jessica E. Halofsky David L. Peterson Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab Seattle, WA Climate controls ecosystem processes
More informationForest Plan Monitoring Program Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region June 2016 Forest Plan Monitoring Program Frequently Asked Questions What is the forest plan monitoring program? The monitoring program is one of three phases
More informationRapid Assessment Reference Condition Model
R0ms Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model The Rapid Assessment is a component of the LANDFIRE project. Reference condition models for the Rapid Assessment were created through a series of expert
More informationClimate change, fire, insects, and disturbance interactions: adaptation challenges in the West
http://www.yakima.net/ Climate change, fire, insects, and disturbance interactions: adaptation challenges in the West W Climate Impacts Group Don McKenzie Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab U.S. Forest
More informationFACT SHEET: BLM, USFS Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Effort
EMBARGOED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 @ 12:00PM ET FACT SHEET: BLM, USFS Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Effort Overview Effective conservation of the greater sage-grouse and its habitat requires a collaborative,
More informationRangeland Roots Vegetation
Rangeland Roots Vegetation Created by: IRRC Date: Subject: Science Grade Level: 4 th + Time Required: 1hour Standards: Standard: 3 Biology Overview Goal(s) & Objective(s) Materials Students fill in the
More informationIntroducing Big Sagebrush into a Crested Wheatgrass Monoculture
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues Volume 17 Threats to Shrubland Ecosystem Integrity Article 26 1-1-2011 Introducing Big Sagebrush into a Crested Wheatgrass Monoculture Robert L. Newhall Sustainable
More informationAssessment of Ecological Conditions and Processes in Need of Repair
1 Module 2 Assessment 2 Assessment of Ecological Conditions and Processes in Need of Repair Learning Objectives 1. Understand why assessment is an important part of any weed management plan. 2. Describe
More information3.28 RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS
3.28 RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS Introduction Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are areas designated, in perpetuity, for non-manipulative research and educational purposes, as well as to help maintain ecological
More informationSouthern California Grassland Habitats
Southern California Grassland Habitats Climate Change Adaptation Actions Summary An Important Note About this Document: This document represents an initial effort to identify adaptation actions for grassland
More informationFuels Management Strategies for Woody natives to Avoid Promoting Invasives Robin J. Tausch U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Fuels Management Strategies for Woody natives to Avoid Promoting Invasives Robin J. Tausch U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Great Basin Study Sites for the Changing Fire Regimes Study
More informationDeveloping Climate-Smart Adaptation Strategies for the Sagebrush Landscape Gunnison Basin, Colorado
Developing Climate-Smart Adaptation Strategies for the Sagebrush Landscape Gunnison Basin, Colorado Gunnison Climate Working Group Betsy Neely, TNC & Renee Rondeau, CNHP 4 th Gunnison Sage-grouse Summit
More informationHome to about 56 million people, the Southwest includes Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and most of California.
Climate change in the U.S. Southwest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Overview The Southwest is the hottest and driest region in the nation. Extending from the Pacific Ocean east to the Rocky Mountains
More informationConservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-Grouse:
United States Department of Agriculture Conservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-Grouse: An Assessment of USDA Forest Service Science Deborah M. Finch, Douglas A. Boyce, Jr., Jeanne
More informationMultidisciplinary, Multisite Evaluation of Alternative Sagebrush Steppe Restoration Treatments: The SageSTEP Project
Multidisciplinary, Multisite Evaluation of Alternative Sagebrush Steppe Restoration Treatments: The SageSTEP Project McIver, J., & Brunson, M. (01). Multidisciplinary, multisite evaluation of alternative
More informationResilience and Resistance of Sagebrush Ecosystems: Implications for State and Transition Models and Management Treatments
Resilience and Resistance of Sagebrush Ecosystems: Implications for State and Transition Models and Management Treatments Chambers, J. C., Miller, R. F., Board, D. I., Pyke, D. A., Roundy, B. A., Grace,
More informationWildlife Conservation Strategy
Wildlife Conservation Strategy Boise National Forest What is the Wildlife Conservation Strategy? The Boise National Forest is developing a Wildlife Conservation Strategy (WCS) in accordance with its Land
More informationSouthern California Chaparral and Sage Scrub Habitats
Southern California Chaparral and Sage Scrub Habitats Climate Change Adaptation Actions Summary An Important Note About this Document: This document represents an initial effort to identify adaptation
More informationRangelands. Grazing for Fuels Management and Sage Grouse Habitat Maintenance and Recovery. A Case Study From Squaw Valley Ranch
Rangelands Society for Range Management Grazing for Fuels Management and Sage Grouse Habitat Maintenance and Recovery A Case Study From Squaw Valley Ranch By Erica Freese, Tamzen Stringham, Gregg Simonds,
More informationAppropriate Actions for Woodland Management
Bureau of Land Management Division of Lands and Resources D. Borland-Forester Appropriate Actions for Woodland Management Goals and objectives of woodland management include an attempt to restore ecosystem
More informationChapter 5. Fire History, Effects, and Management in Southern Nevada. Executive Summary. Fire History and Patterns of Burning
Chapter 5 Fire History, Effects, and Management in Southern Nevada Matthew L. Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, and Randy A. McKinley Executive Summary Fire can be both an ecosystem stressor and a critical ecosystem
More informationRelationship between Wildlife Habitat Management and State & Transition Models for Sagebrush- Perennial Grass Communities
Relationship between Wildlife Habitat Management and State & Transition Models for Sagebrush- Perennial Grass Communities Kent McAdoo, Brad Schultz, & Sherm Swanson (University of Nevada Cooperative Extension)
More informationProposed Plan High Level Overview
Introduction Navigating the Document Key Appendices Proposed Plan Primary Threats in Oregon Addressing Threats Mitigation Strategy Adaptive Management Strategy Next Steps Questions Proposed Plan High Level
More informationThe sagebrush steppe ecosystem,
Research Article Post-fire vegetation dynamics of a sagebrush steppe community change significantly over time by Sara K. Hanna and Sagebrush steppe ecosystems of the Intermountain West have experienced
More informationRapid Assessment Reference Condition Model
R3PGmst Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model The Rapid Assessment is a component of the LANDFIRE project. Reference condition models for the Rapid Assessment were created through a series of expert
More informationWalton Lake Restoration Project
Walton Lake Restoration Project Fire and Fuels Specialist Report, February 2017 Ochoco National Forest Lookout Mtn. Ranger District Barry Kleckler Fuels Specialist, Prairie Division, Central Oregon Fire
More informationGrazing Systems. " Grazing period = The season and number of days during which a pasture is grazed.
Grazing Systems Grazing systems are controlled grazing management practices that manipulate livestock to systematically control periods of grazing, deferment, or rest. An extremely important concept in
More informationConsiderations and Development of the Hydrologic Function Section in Rangeland ESD s. K.E. Spaeth USDA-NRCS, Fort Worth, Tx
Considerations and Development of the Hydrologic Function Section in Rangeland ESD s K.E. Spaeth USDA-NRCS, Fort Worth, Tx Hydrologic Cycle Solar radiation Management Precipitation dynamics Evapotranspiration
More informationState-and-transition models (STMs) are synthetic
Society for Range Management Practical Guidance for Developing State-and-Transition Models By Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Kendra Moseley, Pat L. Shaver, Homer Sanchez, David D. Briske, and Maria E. Fernandez-
More informationIDENTIFICATION OF STATES & PHASES
IDENTIFICATION OF STATES & PHASES MLRA 24 NEVADA Group 2 Concepts Shadscale, budsage, ricegrass, squirreltail Rooting depth ~3-15 Soils: loamy, high in ash, carbonates near surface, no mollic epipedon
More informationLIVESTOCK GRAZING AFTER WILDLAND FIRE
LIVESTOCK GRAZING AFTER WILDLAND FIRE Issue: In the Fall of 2006, Elko BLM District issued three Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan Final Environmental Assessments (FEA s), three Findings
More informationHow Will Climate Change Affect Shrub-Steppe Ecological Systems and Species in Washington?
How Will Climate Change Affect Shrub-Steppe Ecological Systems and Species in Washington? Introduction This summary represents an initial evaluation of climate change vulnerability for shrub-steppe systems
More informationIntermountain Adaptation Partnership. Pat Behrens, USFS Intermountain Region
Pat Behrens, USFS Intermountain Region Direct effects altered vegetation growth, mortality, and regeneration Indirect effects through altered disturbance and interactions with altered ecosystem processes
More informationRestoration in Nevada s Rangelands. Elizabeth Leger University of Nevada, Reno
Restoration in Nevada s Rangelands Elizabeth Leger University of Nevada, Reno Outline Restoration in the Great Basin Can we make it better? Figure out why some plants grow better than others Implications
More informationMapping burn severity in heterogeneous landscapes with a relativized version of the delta Normalized Burn Ratio (dnbr)
Mapping burn severity in heterogeneous landscapes with a relativized version of the delta Normalized Burn Ratio (dnbr) Jay D. Miller USDA Forest Service 3237 Peacekeeper Way McClellan, CA 95652 Email:
More informationRangeland Health Indicators: Can They Provide Early Warning Indicators?
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center Rangeland Health Indicators: Can They Provide Early Warning Indicators? David A. Pyke U.S. Department of Interior U.S. Geological Survey Trajectory! Operational
More informationWhat are cultural methods? Cultural methods part 1. Grazing. Disadvantages. Multi-species grazing. Controlled access and use
Cultural methods part 1 Reading:Targeted grazing: chapters 6,9,&12 and skim chapter 15 What are cultural methods? Controlled access and use Grazing yes/no Grazing intensity Grazing season Recreation http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/02c1219.jpg
More informationRange Management and Conservation. Rangeland Management and
Range Management and Conservation Leslie Roche and Ken Tate Rangeland Watershed Lab University of California, Davis Rangeland Management and Water quality, species of concern, riparian and meadow health,
More information(ft) Mean annual ( F)
Washington State s: East-Side Marine Shoreline West-side Montane To Douglas-fir / Grand fir Douglas-fir / Grand fir Douglas-fir / Grand fir Sitka Spruce Shrub Palouse Prairie Okanogan Highlands / Purcell
More informationTHE ROLES OF SEED SCIENCE AND RESTORATION IN THE INTEGRATED RANGELAND FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
THE ROLES OF SEED SCIENCE AND RESTORATION IN THE INTEGRATED RANGELAND FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Deborah M. Finch, USDA Forest Service and Ken Berg, US Geological Survey R.J. Sindelar SO 3336, Rangeland
More informationGreat Basin LCC Webinar Series. Relations among cheatgrass-driven fire, climate and sensitive-status birds across the Great Basin
Great Basin LCC Webinar Series Relations among cheatgrass-driven fire, climate and sensitive-status birds across the Great Basin When you have a time when you re sitting back and thinking, and you re
More informationANTELOPE-BRUSH/NEEDLE-AND-THREAD GRASS
ANTELOPE-BRUSH/NEEDLE-AND-THREAD GRASS Purshia tridentata/hesperostipa comata Original prepared by T. Lea, S. Flynn, and C. Cadrin Plant Community Information Description This shrub-steppe community has
More informationProactive Use of Genetic Resistance to Pathogens to Sustain Ecological Function of Threatened Ecosystems
Proactive Use of Genetic Resistance to Pathogens to Sustain Ecological Function of Threatened Ecosystems Anna W. Schoettle Rocky Mountain Research Station Fort Collins, Colorado Richard Sniezko Mike Antolin
More informationWildfire and Invasive Initiative USFWS/ WAFWA
Wildfire and Invasive Initiative USFWS/ WAFWA Mission To develop a report of the current work and set of concise, concrete, prioritized and integrated actions land managers and policy makers can take to
More informationGrassland and steppe biomes
Grassland and Steppe Biomes Plant Ecology in a Changing World Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah http://plantecology.net Grassland and steppe biomes climate and global distribution North American grasslands
More informationWELCOME! Four Corners and Upper Rio Grande Vulnerability Assessment Webinar Series
WELCOME! Four Corners and Upper Rio Grande Vulnerability Assessment Webinar Series Phone audio: Dial: 866-620-8138; Passcode: 5952203# Mute your phone and turn off computer speakers (prevents echo issue).
More informationThe Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP): A Test of State-and Transition Theory.
Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Environment and Society Faculty Publications Environment and Society 2010 The Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (SageSTEP): A Test of State-and Transition
More informationImproving Reclamation on Oil and Gas Well Pads in the Rocky Mountain West
Improving Reclamation on Oil and Gas Well Pads in the Rocky Mountain West IPAMS 2008 ROCKY MOUNTAIN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE September 5, 2008 Ed Redente, Ph.D. MWH Americas, Inc. 3665 JFK Parkway,
More informationEcological Principles for Invasive Plant Management
Ecological Principles for Invasive Plant Management Ecological Principles for Invasive Plant Management Jeremy J. James, Roger L. Sheley, Edward A. Vasquez and Brenda S. Smith USDA is an equal opportunity
More informationMixed Conifer Forests An Overview
Mixed Conifer Forests An Overview Thomas Spies PNW Research Station December 4, 2013 Pendleton, OR "Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, but more complex than we can think. ---Frank Egler
More informationEffects of Climatic Variability and Change on Vegetation and Disturbance in the Blue Mountains
Effects of Climatic Variability and Change on Vegetation and Disturbance in the Blue Mountains Becky Kerns, John Kim, and Dave Peterson USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station Climate Change and Vegetation
More informationAppendix 4. Implementation Recommendations and Guidelines
Appendix 4. Implementation Recommendations and Guidelines Conservation actions and identified in this Action Plan will be implemented in different ways, depending on land ownership. Implementation of the
More informationRestoring whitebark forests in the Crown of the Continent under climate change
Restoring whitebark forests in the Crown of the Continent under climate change Bob Keane, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Sciences Laboratory Whitebark Pine Decline Decline a result
More informationInvasive Species, Wildfire, and the Use of Native Seeds for Restoration. Sarah Kulpa Botanist/Restoration Ecologist Reno Fish and Wildlife Office
Invasive Species, Wildfire, and the Use of Native Seeds for Restoration Sarah Kulpa Botanist/Restoration Ecologist Reno Fish and Wildlife Office Jeannie Stafford, USFWS Conserving the Great Basin Sagebrush
More informationVASEY S BIG SAGEBRUSH/PINEGRASS
VASEY S BIG SAGEBRUSH/PINEGRASS Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana/calamagrostis rubescens Original prepared by J. Pojar, S. Flynn, and C. Cadrin Plant Community Information Description This shrub-steppe
More information